Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Eratay, what are Hotel Europe’s expectations from the Baku 2015 First European Games? Will the flow of tourists, and accordingly the number of guests, increase?
Kemal Eratay, General Manager of Grand Hotel Europe: In connection with the Baku 2015 First European Games to be hosted this June, we expect a considerable growth in the number of guests visiting our hotel. Hotel Europe will certainly welcome them in a warm and hospitable way inherent to the Azerbaijan nation. We have already done our best to achieve these objectives. Guests who choose Hotel Europe as a place of residence during the Baku 2015 First European Games should be embraced by maximum comfort and enjoy high level service. In this regard we are making some changes in design, conducting certain repair work. We are removing those drawbacks that we see.
CE: Which innovations will Hotel Europe offer to its guests in 2015?
Kemal Eratay: First of all, I would like to emphasize that we have solved the problem of strongly outdated elevators in the hotel. After repair, their appearance modernized considerably. Upgrade also concerned the reception office. A certain repair work was carried out in the sports club - we replaced old devices with new ones. By summer we will have improved conditions in the sauna. Necessary works are carried out in the conference rooms of the hotel and as well as in the hall for coffee breaks. We had small problems with hotel’s full coverage by Internet, now these problems have been completely solved. Hotel Europe is fully provided with high-speed Wi-Fi. At the same time we reconsidered cuisine that we offer and introduced little changes in the menu.
CE: What is the essential difference of Hotel Europe in 2015?
Kemal Eratay: The key difference is a higher level of service. According to the opinion of guests, who chose Hotel Europe as a place of residence in the second half of 2014, we have already achieved serious improvements in terms of service. What we want to achieve is to make our guests pleased with meals offered and with a suite where they stay. The special attention is paid to conditions in suits, their cleanness. Before the winter season we checked and brought the heating system in a due order. We plan to do the same before the summer season. The ventilating and cooling systems will be checked.
CE: How much did you invest or do intend to invest in raising your competitiveness?
Kemal Eratay: First of all, one should understand that Hotel Europe was constructed in 1995. It was the first hotel certified as a five-star hotel. A lot of time has passed since then. This is the reason why we should do different repairs from time to time. Without upgrade, we will just fail in competing with branded five-star hotels. At the same time, one should understand that by replacing, conditionally speaking, wall-paper or tables, we will hardly be able to achieve a desirable result. We should improve the quality of customer service. It gains even greater importance in the light of the forthcoming European Games in Baku.
CE: Do you expect a number of visitors to reduce against the background of the ongoing crisis in the neighbouring countries and Europe promoted by falling oil prices and some sanctions?
Kemal Eratay: Frankly speaking, I do not exclude it. However, the Government of Azerbaijan has timely undertaken required measures to soften, as much as possible, the negative effects of the crisis.
CE: Are there plans to expand Hotel Europe’s activity in the future? Do you intend opening hotels in the regions of the country?
Kemal Eratay: It may be a case in the future, but at the moment we prioritise development and upgrade of Hotel Europe. In the future, Hotel Europe may become a branded hotel in Azerbaijan.
